Chancellor’s Diary

by Fr. John Jillions

April 26, 2013

Glory

It shall be that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come and see My glory. (Isaiah 66:18)

So we’ve come to the end of Great Lent and the transition to Holy Week, with the raising of Lazarus tomorrow and our Lord’s triumphal entrance into Jerusalem on Sunday. He…

April 25, 2013

April 24, 2013

Reconciliation

And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me.” So they came near. Then he said: “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.
“But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to…

April 23, 2013

Injustice

Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will be with you.”
So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field, to his flock,
and said to them, “I see your father’s countenance, that it is not favorable toward me as before; but…

April 19, 2013

The Self Sacrifice of Isaac

The sacrifice or binding of Isaac (Akedah) is today’s Genesis reading. Most of the focus of interpreters has been on Abraham’s faith and his willingness to follow God’s guidance. As Hebrews says, for example,

Sacrifice of Isaac
The Sacrifice of Isaac, Giovanni Battista Piazetta…

April 18, 2013

Bold Intercession

Then Abraham answered and said, “Indeed now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord… (Genesis 18:27)

I love today’s episode from Genesis. It portrays Abraham as a bold intercessor before the Lord, who is fiercely angry and ready to…

April 17, 2013

“Fear Not, You Worm Jacob”

For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand,
saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’
“Fear not, you worm Jacob, You men of Israel! I will help you,”
says the Lord and your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 41:13-14)

Segregated Street Car
Segregated street…

April 16, 2013

We Shall Overcome

He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and…

April 15, 2013

Birmingham

The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. (Proverbs 15:3)

Metropolitan Tikhon and I are in Birmingham, Alabama today for an interchurch conference on race relations and social justice, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther…

April 12, 2013

The Risk of Faith

So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him…And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. (Genesis 12:4)

Where there is no risk, how much faith can there be? And if there isn’t a little fear in your heart about what’s going to happen, how risky is it? I…

April 11, 2013

Overcoming Babel

When the Most High came down and confused the tongues,
he divided the nations.
But when he distributed the tongues of fire, he called all to unity;
therefore with one voice we glorify the All-Holy Spirit. Kontakion of Pentecost (Saint Romanos the Melodist, 6th c.)

Tower of Babel
The…

April 10, 2013

Slaying the Serpent

In that day the Lord with His severe sword, great and strong, will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan that twisted serpent; and He will slay the reptile that is in the sea. (Isaiah 27:1)

Archangel Michael

We are in a constant battle with a “twisted serpent” whose sole aim…

April 9, 2013

And it will be said in that day: “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.” (Isaiah 25:9)

Waiting

Metropolitan Leonty
Metropolitan Leonty

When I look at photos of the aged Metropolitan Leonty or of…

April 4, 2013

Isaiah 11:10-12:2
Genesis 7:11-8:3
Proverbs 10:1-22

Love Covers All Sins

Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins. (Proverbs 10:12)

Scripture is often the best commentary on Scripture. Take this verse from Proverbs. 1 Peter refers to this and puts it in the context of the Christian community living in light of the world to come, the…

April 2, 2013

Ark of Salvation, House of Wisdom

“Wisdom has built her house…” (Proverbs 9:1)

All this week the readings from Genesis recount the story of Noah and the ark. For early Christians this was an obvious link to the Church as the ark of salvation, and in Roman catacombs this was a favorite…

March 28, 2013

At a Passover Seder

I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.
Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.
And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy,…

March 26, 2013

A New Triumph of Orthodoxy?

Now Cain talked with Abel his brother and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.
Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis…

March 22, 2013

A Giving Lifestyle

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so. (Proverbs 3:27)

This is a very practical rule to live by. Pretty simple. But we like to complicate things and find reasons why in any given situation we shouldn’t help out. This…

March 21, 2013

Human Pride, Human Nature

The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day. (Isaiah 2:11)

In the heyday of the Roman Empire brilliant generals were awarded the right to have a triumphal procession into Rome, something…

March 19, 2013

Two Ways

As the world watches Pope Francis begin his ministry as the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, the readings we have for our second day of Lent take us back to the most basic decisions. And it’s either/or, not both/and. “If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the…